Alignment: Lawful Evil
Domains: Army, Knowledge, Law, War
Location of Central Temple: None
Favored Weapon: The Longsword.
Holy Symbol: A banner or etching with the form of a Sword on it.
The Tactician is an enigmatic god that prefers to spread his control not through the masses, but through the few he chooses as his brothers. These people are enlightened through his interaction and some become infused through his power. He whispers plans and actions to these enlightened few, and they take these whispers and transform them into roars.
The Tactician usually chooses those he feels best relate to his own philosophy and those best situated to enact his awesome plans. Thus his worshippers are often generals, officers, and nobility. These people worship the Tactician, who is called many names by numerous nations, in the hopes he will whisper in their ears and allow them to reap victory and glory.
The origins and loyalties of the Tactician are not known. There are rumors that span back to the days when the gods walk the earth where he would amass armies of mortals and march them against each other, just to watch them interact and see which plan would succeed over the other. Countless thousands of lives were used in this way, and it is an attitude that the Tactician often takes when involving himself in the affairs of the material plane.
A person receiving the divine advice of the Tactician can never be sure if it is beneficial or the advice will lead them down a path that will only serve the whims and desires of the God. The advice and help offered are often too good to refuse, and those it is offered to are picked so well that few have ever turned the help down, and those that did often died in horrible, public ways.
An important note is that only a person whose life has been directly touched by the god is referred to as a Brother of the Tactician. While the followers are usually referred to as the Brethren, scholars and worshippers know better than to trivialize the god’s influence in that way.
As previously stated most followers of the Tactician are Generals, Officers, and Nobility. These people often worship the Tactician in secret, hoping to conceal their ambitious desires and plans for conquest. These people harbor desires for conquest and glory in their homelands, others desire power and rebellion. This variety of people all hold in common their ambition and willingness to use as many people as necessary to accomplish their goals. For this reason the Tactician is often a popular god in Hobgoblin Tribes as well as larger nations and armies.
The Clergy of the Brethren of the Tactician are often those within positions of influence to those that have military authority and political power. In addition to this kind of clergy are also those who have the military authority themselves. Many a clergyman has been seen at the head of an army bent on conquest, rebellion, or retribution.
The followers tend to be intelligent men of war as opposed to great warriors. The Tactician prefers to work through those that can at least try to comprehend the levels he is working at, and he prefers to offer advice against similar opponents, picking the weaker of the two and watching the outcome of the ensuing battle. It has been accused that he will sometimes offer advice and inspiration to both sides at once, just to test his grand schemes against each other and to enjoy the bloodshed reaped by these plans.
The Tactician is generally trustworthy; his inspiration can lead someone to great victory, glory, and future renown.
Services to the Tactician are generally private and often involve studying battles and tomes dedicated to battles that historians believe the Tactician inspired. Small shrines and private training are said to attract his attention, and thus any serious worshipper has some sort of military library and training facility. Beyond this there are few facilities that are officially dedicated to the God. Many officer academies include shrines to the Tactician, or classes that include studying battles he is said to have been part of.
The most important dates for a Brother of the Tactician are historical battles that involved his nation or favored general. There are no official holidays, however.
